Problem with one of my speakers

[A5]

I have a set of Polks as my main L/R speakers, and when there's a loud low frequency sound the right speaker's woofer seems to emit a higher frequency vibration on top of it.

The characteristics of the sound are hard to describe, but it sounds kind of like a piece of plastic vibrating or if you stuck the edge of a piece of paper into a fan. I don't know if that makes any sense, but it might help...

May be some kind of clipping on the signal - the end of the wire looked somewhat oxidized, but I don't know if that causes any real problems.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

You could swap the wires for the speakers to see if the problem follows the switch (problem with the signal going to the speakers) or stays at the right speaker (problem with the speaker itself).

 

[spidey07]

That's probably the voice coil slapping the magnet. Are you playing them loudly when it happens? If so you're damaging your speakers.

 

[Soundmanred]

Also check to see if the surround has seperated from the cone at all.

 

[s44]

Are these new speakers, or old?

 

[A5]

Originally posted by: spidey07
That's probably the voice coil slapping the magnet. Are you playing them loudly when it happens? If so you're damaging your speakers.

I'm not playing them super loud - not anywhere near reference level. They are less than 5 years old and have never been abused. I'll try swapping the wires after I finish my homework 😛

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: A5

Originally posted by: spidey07
That's probably the voice coil slapping the magnet. Are you playing them loudly when it happens? If so you're damaging your speakers.

I'm not playing them super loud - not anywhere near reference level. They are less than 5 years old and have never been abused. I'll try swapping the wires after I finish my homework 😛

Well I'm just saying you don't have to play them super loud to get that - just loud enough. The sound I'm describing is a "vibrating clack" that sounds like what you describe. This could happen if your bass is cranked up or the song has a lot of bass. Some more details would help - receiver, volume level, how are speakers setup (large/small) is there a sub involved, etc.

Also physically move the cone with your hand to make sure it is moving freely without any resistance.

If the symptom only happens when you're playing it louder than a conversation then I'd lean more towards overdriving the speakers. But the sound you described made me immediately think of voice coil smacking. I don't know what speakers you have but that could be port farting as well.

 

[A5]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: A5

Originally posted by: spidey07
That's probably the voice coil slapping the magnet. Are you playing them loudly when it happens? If so you're damaging your speakers.

I'm not playing them super loud - not anywhere near reference level. They are less than 5 years old and have never been abused. I'll try swapping the wires after I finish my homework 😛

Well I'm just saying you don't have to play them super loud to get that - just loud enough. The sound I'm describing is a "vibrating clack" that sounds like what you describe. This could happen if your bass is cranked up or the song has a lot of bass. Some more details would help - receiver, volume level, how are speakers setup (large/small) is there a sub involved, etc.

Also physically move the cone with your hand to make sure it is moving freely without any resistance.

If the symptom only happens when you're playing it louder than a conversation then I'd lean more towards overdriving the speakers. But the sound you described made me immediately think of voice coil smacking. I don't know what speakers you have but that could be port farting as well.

Onkyo TX-SR606, volume level is usually set to 35-45, set up as Large by Audessy (no Sub), speakers are Polk Rti 6's. It doesn't happen unless there is loud bass - I guess louder than a conversation, don't have a dB meter handy. I'll check the cones in a little while.

 

[PurdueRy]

I have a pair of the RTi6's but I haven't ever heard anything odd like this. Do you have a high pass filter set on the receiver?

 

[A5]

I checked the cones today, they both look the same and give roughly the same resistance when I push them. I don't have any kind of special settings on the receiver other than the Audessy calibration.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Did you determine if the problem is the speaker itself?

 

[A5]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Did you determine if the problem is the speaker itself?

I switched the speakers just now. It's definitely the speaker, and it only occurs at high displacement (aka loud, low bass). Guess I have to call Polk and buy a new driver 🙁. Guess the other option would be to override Audessy and set a higher crossover point until I can get a sub (I figure the driver will be over $50, and I'm not sure I can afford that atm).

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I'm assuming that you're a ClubPolk forum member and thus know that if you mention you're a member, you might be able to get a lower cost to replace the woofer through Polk. Might it even be under warranty?

 

[A5]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
I'm assuming that you're a ClubPolk forum member and thus know that if you mention you're a member, you might be able to get a lower cost to replace the woofer through Polk. Might it even be under warranty?

Definitely no warranty, since I bought them second hand. I'll call them up and see what the price is.

Edit: It's $48+tax for ClubPolk members...hrm.